Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski's, left, proposal to lease the city's water and sewer system would be put to the voters if a group, co-coordinated by Dan Poresky, has its petition accepted by the city.Express-Times File Photos

With more than 4,000 signatures in hand, a group of Allentown residents hope today to secure voters' chance to weigh in on the lease of the city's water and sewer systems.

Only 2,000 eligible signatures are required but a dispute over the collection process could stymie the efforts.

The petition aims for a ballot initiative this May that would require a ballot initiative for the sale or lease of a city asset worth more than $10 million, explained Daniel Poresky, co-organizer of the referendum committee.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski's proposal to lease the city's water and sewer system for 50 years is the main target of the ballot initiative plan for now, Poresky said. If the initiative makes it to the May ballot and passes, the committee hopes to put the plan for leasing the sewer and water system to voters in November.

The five-person committee authorized about 30 volunteers in October to circulate the petition, Poresky explained, following instructions from the city clerk.

Even with weeks to spare, the group plans to disregard the attorney's opinion and is pushing forward with its petition this afternoon.

A sizable chunk of the signatures were collected at the polls on election day, Poresky said, in an attempt to secure registered voters, which is a requirement.

"We had a captive audience," Poresky explained. "Otherwise we'd still be out there."

The co-coordinator estimates the committee members pulled in about 500 signatures individually, but wouldn't be able to secure an additional 1,500 by the December deadline.

If the petitions' signatures are not deemed eligible, Poresky says the plan is to appeal to city council to overrule the clerk's decision.

City spokesman Michael Moore expects the city to have a comment after the petitions are handed over later today. It was not clear if council has the power to overrule the clerk's decision in this case.